Epilogue
Two months later . . .
“Is everyone ready?” Alex stared out at the close-knit group with a smile and waited.
The men and women of Tac-Ops stood together in Garrett and Avery’s back yard. But this wasn’t their typical cookout. Today was special, because the expectant parents were about to learn the sex of their unborn child.
Alex knew. Aside from Avery’s OBGYN, she was the only one who knew whether her sister’s baby would be her nephew or niece.
“Just do it, already!” Colt yelled before flashing her a wink and a grin.
God, I love that man.
It was still crazy to think of all that had happened. Crawford was dead; his trafficking empire was still crumbling at its core, and she was in love with Coulter Morgan.
The best part?
He loves me back.
And if she ever started to doubt his feelings, all Alex had to do was look into his crystal blue eyes, and she was instantly reminded. Every glance. Every stare. The proof was there every time he looked her way.
It was also in the form of a beautiful diamond currently taking up residence on her left ring finger.
I can’t believe we’re engaged.
That same thought had run through her mind at least once a day since he’d proposed shortly after her harrowing ordeal. And every time it did, she smiled.
Like now, as Colt’s high-pitched whistle tore through the afternoon air. When she looked her fiancé’s way, Alex found him making a circle with his hand as a sign to hurry this thing along.
She chuckled before turning to Avery, whose baby bump was finally starting to show. “You ready?”
“Yes! Please hurry, sis.” Avery gave an emphatic, pleading nod. “I seriously can’t take the suspense much longer.”
“I’d listen to her, Al.” Garrett grinned. “You don’t pull that thing in the next few seconds, she’s liable to yank it out of your hand and do it herself.”
More laughter ensued as Alex prepared to pull the string. Once she did, the sides of the giant box would collapse, and the balloons that were inside would go flying.
“Okay, y’all,” she hollered. “Count with me.”
She and the group counted down together.
“Three . . . two . . . one!”
Alex pulled the string. The four sides of the box fell open. A slew of balloons filled with helium rose high into the air.
Blue balloons because—
“It’s a boy!” Avery squealed as Garrett picked her up and spun her around with glee.
Every member of Tac-Ops—which as of two months ago, included Colt—punched their fists up high with collective shouts of male celebration.
“Hell yeah!”
“Woo hoo!”
“I knew it!”
“Better start trainin’ him young!”
Meanwhile, the other women in attendance clapped and cheered at the exciting news.
Tears blurred Alex’s vision as she watched her sister and brother-in-law’s loving embrace. She thought about all they’d been through, and the wild ride that had been their lives since.
Mostly, Alex was consumed by how thankful she was for her sister’s happiness . . . as well as her own.
“Nicely done, Al.” Coulter sidled up beside her.
“Thanks.” She turned and gave him a soft kiss. “I have to say, it was rather fun being the only one who knew the baby’s gender.”
“Oh, I know.” He pulled her close with a roll of his gorgeous eyes. “You only reminded me half-a-dozen times a day since you found out.”
Alex laughed, wrapping her arms loosely around his neck. “Like you wouldn’t have done the same thing if the situation were reversed?”
“Who, me? I’d never.”
“Whatever.”
They both chuckled as they shared another slow kiss.
“Okay, you two. Break it up.” Bones slapped a hand to Colt’s shoulder. “I already have one tiny Morgan to spoil. Let’s maybe hold off on adding another, yeah?”
Colt waited until he was out of earshot before whispering, “How long should we wait before we tell them?”
Alex’s chest grew warm and her belly fluttered with nervous excitement. “Let’s give it a few more weeks, just to be sure. Plus, I don’t want it to seem like I’m trying to steal Avery’s thunder.”
The last thing she’d ever want to do is take away from her sister’s special day.
“You saw how they reacted when we told them we were getting married.” Colt smirked. “I can only imagine what they’ll say when they find out you’re pregnant, too.”
A wave of nervous excitement fell over Alex as she thought of the secret the two of them shared.
She had discovered she was pregnant a few weeks ago, after her period was late.
The news was shocking, to say the least. But, as her doctor had explained during her first appointment, no birth control was one hundred percent.
Though unexpected, Alex, Colt, and every other person here knew it didn’t matter how they thought their lives should go. What was the saying?
We make plans, and God laughs.
Alex grinned at the silent sentiment because truer words had never existed. Life was unexpected and full of surprises, but through it all, Colt would always be there.
Supporting her. Encouraging her. Loving her completely as he stood by her side. And as Alex looked deep into her fiancé’s incredible blue stare, she couldn’t wait to spend the rest of her life doing the same for him.
***
Rafe Owens walked through the empty Tac-Ops reception area, stopping just inside the office’s main door to set the alarm. After entering the code he knew by heart, the tiny light turned red, and the telltale beep announced the system’s activation.
With the office secure for the night, he stepped into the hallway, shutting and locking the door behind him with a sigh. It had been a long two months, and now that things were finally settling down, he was looking forward to some at home.
There was a mile-long list of things needing his attention at his sprawling southern plantation. There was also a book he’d been planning to read. Perhaps he’d finally sit down and give it a try.
But as the elevator dinged and he waited for the metal doors to slide open, Rafe kept his expectations for relaxation low. The truth was, peace didn’t often find its way to men like him. It was a sacrifice he’d willingly given the day he’d signed up to be a government spy.
“Oh, hey! I didn’t know you were still here.”
The unexpected sound of his daughter’s voice took him by surprise “Shadow?” Rafe frowned, his gaze sliding to Digger. “I thought you two were supposed to be at Falcon and Avery’s.”
“We just left there,” Digger responded as the two exited the elevator together. “But Shadow wanted to swing by here on the way home.”
“I accidentally left that new tablet I ordered on my desk,” she explained. “I figured I’d spend the weekend loading it up with my usual programs, so it’d be ready to go for the next op.”
Hearing this wasn’t surprising in the least. For Shadow—or Alice, as he and his late wife had named her the day she was born—designing high-end, encrypted programs to assist the team in their endeavors was more fun than work.
Rafe unlocked the office door and turned off the alarm. He and Digger waited together while Shadow hurried down the unlit hall.
“So.” He turned to his son-in-law. “Since I was unable to make it to the party, tell me. What are Falcon and Avery having?”
“A boy.” Digger grinned.
Rafe’s chest grew warm at the news. “I bet Falcon was quite relieved.”
“Oh, yeah. Poor guy was terrified at the thought of being a girl dad.”
It was a sentiment Rafe understood well.
“Being the father of a girl definitely comes with its own set of challenges,” he shared. “But I wouldn’t change it for anything in the world.”
“Really?”
“That surprises you?”
“Well . . . yeah.” The former SEAL sent Rafe an incredulous stare. “You’ve kept Shadow’s existence a secret from the world for pretty much her entire life.”
“And I would have done the same had she been a boy.”
“You would have?”
“Absolutely.” Rafe gave a dip of his rugged chin.
“My list of enemies is long and decades in the making. After Shadow’s mother was murdered, I wasn’t about to risk losing her too.
It would have been the same had she been a son, rather than a daughter.
Either way, it’s a father’s job to protect their child. ”
Memories from that heart shattering night were never far from the surface. It was the moment his life was changed forever.
“Okay, I’m good.” Shadow returned with her new high-end tablet in hand. “I can’t wait to get this baby home and test it out.”
When she flashed a smile Rafe’s way, his heart became infinitely full. The men on his team were family in his eyes, but his daughter . . . she was his entire world.
“Where did you two park?”
“Dig scored a sweet spot right out front.” Shadow’s loving gaze turned her husband’s way.
Rafe motioned toward the office door. “Come on. I’ll walk you two out and then head to my car, in the garage.”
Minutes later, the three were on the sidewalk in front of the building discussing their weekend plans.
“Why don’t the two of you come over for dinner on Sunday?” He looked to Shadow. “I’ll even make your favorite.”
A sparkle of child-like hope filled her widening eyes. “Shrimp alfredo with garlic toast and a Caesar salad?”
“I’ll even add a little cayenne to the sauce,” Rafe promised.
His daughter looked to Digger for confirmation. When the other man nodded, Shadow released a tiny squeal and clapped her hands with excitement.
“I haven’t had that in forever,” she gushed. “Oh! I can whip up some tiramisu to bring for dessert.”
“Sounds perfect.” Rafe pulled his daughter in for a hug. With a quick kiss to the top of her head, he added a fatherly, “You two be safe driving home.”
“We’re always safe.”
“Always?” He shot her a pointed stare.
Shadow shrugged. “Mostly always.”
Rafe’s deep chuckle sent his broad shoulders shaking. “That’s what I thought.”
“You be safe, too,” his daughter chided. “I worry about you being alone in that big, old house.”
“I like my house.”
“So do I.” Her expression softened. “I just hate thinking about you being there all by yourself.”
“I manage just fine, sweetheart.” He smiled, his highly trained gaze shifting to a slowly approaching car. Rafe blinked, and over the next few seconds, several things happened all at once.
A slight glint of sunlight caught moving metal rising through the opened passenger window. His pulse spiked, a rush of adrenaline flooded his veins as his heart slammed against the inside of his chest.
“Get down!” Rafe shouted. It was the only chance he had to warn his daughter and son-in-law of the danger swiftly closing in.
He and Digger both moved to grab the woman they loved and pull her safely to the ground as a single shout rang out through the air.
The trio dropped to the sidewalk below as a soft grunt reached Rafe’s ears. Someone nearby released a loud, piercing scream. Tires squealed as the car sped off down the street, and when he lifted his head, the vehicle was already gone.
Go back up to the office and have Shadow access the CCTV.
With any luck, the area’s cameras picked up a clear view of the shooter’s face. Or at the very least, the car’s plates.
“Are you two okay?” He looked back to Digger.
The other man was pushing himself from Shadow’s hunched form.
“I’m fine.” Digger started to offer her his hand. “Shadow, you good?”
When she didn’t respond, both men looked to each other a beat before returning their focus to her.
“Ah, God, Rafe.” A look of horror took over Digger’s widening gaze.
Rafe’s stomach dropped when he saw the pool of bright, red blood spreading out from beneath Shadow’s still form.
No!
“Alice!” he cried out as both he and Digger fell to their knees next to where she lay.
Working together, they carefully roll her over to better assess her condition. Shadow’s eyes were closed, her head lolling to the side as they positioned her onto her back.
“Oh, shit!” Digger’s trembling hands shot out to press down onto the open wound to help slow the bleeding.
Rafe held his breath as he checked the side of her neck for a pulse. It came out in a loud rush when he felt the faint rhythm beating beneath his touch.
“She’s alive,” he announced.
Shadow had been shot in her lower left abdomen. From what he could tell, the bullet was still somewhere inside.
“Call an ambulance!” A frantic Digger yelled.
But Rafe was already pulling out his phone to dial nine-one-one.
“She’s losing too much blood,” the other man growled. To his wounded wife, Digger then pleaded, “Come on, baby. Stay with me. You got this. Dammit, Shadow, stay with me!”
Rafe made the call, and what felt like several terrifying minutes later, sirens blared to life in the distance. Though it wasn’t easy, he tried like hell to contain the murderous rage warring with his unprecedented fear.
If he lost her—
No!
He couldn’t lose his daughter. Rafe refused to even entertain the horrific thought. But as Shadow lay bleeding, a plan formed within the confines of his fearful mind.
I’m going hunting.
No matter how long it took, no matter the cost, Rafe was going to track down the person or people responsible. And when he found them, he would make them pay for their sins . . .
With their lives.